Flexible rating rules and calender rules implemented in a real-time charging system for a telecommunications network
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving a service request for a requested service at a computer, the computer configured to access a plurality of rating rules;
determining a charge for the requested service at the computer based on at least one rating rule of the plurality of rating rules and a tag, wherein the tag is based on at least one of information in the service request, network provided data, configuration data, and subscriber data; and
generating, at the computer, one or more balance buckets for tracking a balance of the requested service and one or more usage buckets for tracking a usage of the requested service based on the at least one rating rule of the plurality of rating rules.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
By coupling a rating engine with call processing, rating rules are generated that enable a flexible interface between call process and call rating without necessitating that fixed data be passed between them. The real time charging system (RCS) provides a process that creates a generic entity, called a bucket, and uses it to keep track of account information and/or to count types of usage. The bucket allows an operator to define accounts and usage counters and how they are used as part of the rating rules. Use of these buckets is defined in rating rules, thus turning control over subscriber account and usage counters to the network operator. Further, the RCS provides a calendar option for limiting times during which calls to general telephone numbers can be made or received.
20 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving a service request for a requested service at a computer, the computer configured to access a plurality of rating rules; determining a charge for the requested service at the computer based on at least one rating rule of the plurality of rating rules and a tag, wherein the tag is based on at least one of information in the service request, network provided data, configuration data, and subscriber data; and generating, at the computer, one or more balance buckets for tracking a balance of the requested service and one or more usage buckets for tracking a usage of the requested service based on the at least one rating rule of the plurality of rating rules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system, comprising:
a computer, comprising; memory that contains a plurality of rating rules; and software that causes the computer to perform operations comprising; receiving a service request for a requested service; determining a charge for the requested service based on at least one rating rule of the plurality of rating rules and a tag, wherein the tag is based on at least one of information in the service request, network provided data, configuration data, and subscriber data; and causing a rating engine to generate one or more balance buckets for tracking a balance of the requested service and one or more usage buckets for tracking a usage of the requested service based on the one of the one or more rating rules. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system, comprising:
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means for receiving a service request for a requested service; means for accessing a plurality of rating rules; means for determining a charge for the requested service based on at least one rating rule of the plurality of rating rules and a tag, wherein the tag is based on at least one of information in the service request, network provided data, configuration data, and subscriber data; and means for generating one or more balance buckets for tracking a balance of the requested service and one or more usage buckets for tracking a usage of the requested service based on the at least one rating rule of the plurality of rating rules. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:
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instructions to receive a service request for a requested service at a computer, the computer configured to access a plurality of rating rules; instructions to determine a charge for the requested service based on at least one rating rule of the plurality of rating rules and a tag, wherein the tag is based on at least one of information in the service request, network provided data, configuration data, and subscriber data; and instructions to generate one or more balance buckets for tracking a balance of the requested service and one or more usage buckets for tracking a usage of the requested service based on the at least one rating rule of the plurality of rating rules. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification